Floored About Our Latest Project: The RV Makeover Continues

Now that the walls, countertops, and cabinets of our 1999 Sun-lite travel trailer were nicely polished, the paint-splattered vinyl floor tiles looked especially lackluster.

Interestingly enough, the more we’ve updated our camper, the more we’ve antiquated it – it’s taken on the style of a cheery vintage cottage. So, going with that theme, we picked out peel & stick vinyl planks that resemble old, wooden flooring.

It was hard to get exact measurements around all of the woodwork, so we bought a box of 40 knowing that we could return any unused planks individually.

And also, if we’re being honest, Lowes is not the kind of place where you turn your back on a 2-year old while you count sticky floor tiles. In certain aisles, (e.g., light bulbs, spray paint, power tools), even blinking can be risky.

First, hubby popped off the baseboard trim around the bottom of the cabinets with a screw driver. We numbered the back of each board as we took it off so that we could easily reinstall them in the right order once the flooring was done.

A quick dust and sweep and we were ready to install the planks.

We started at the entryway and worked backwards towards the center of the camper.

Daddy’s biggest helper, sitting still for 0.2 seconds.

Just as the name suggests, this was a pretty simple process.

Step 1: Peel.

Step 2: Stick.

When needed, hubby cut the planks using a utility knife and a rafter square.

When you’re two-years old and trying to be helpful, “square” is a very confusing name for a tool that’s shaped exactly like a triangle.

Heck, even I’m confused by that one.

When the floor was finished, hubby reattached the baseboards using an air compressor and nail gun. I touched up the tiny nail heads with white paint to camouflage them.

The entire project took only a few hours and was inexpensive since we had minimal square footage to cover.

I think it’s my favorite update so far. The dark, rich “wood” contrasts beautifully with the white cabinets and pale walls. The planks will be dark enough to hide camp dirt, doggy footprints, and any muddy treasures C drags in from the woods.

Supplies and Cost Summary for this Project:

• Style Selections Peel-and-Stick vinyl planks in Antique Woodland Oak, 29 planks @ $1.47 each  = $42.63
  • [Link is to same product in a larger sized plank]
• Utility Knife
• Triangle Square
• Nail gun or glue to reattach baseboards

Total Cost: $42.63

What a week. We’re tired, sticky, paint-splattered, high on fumes, and almost done.

Stay tuned for the final touches.

The Makeover Continues: Easy RV Countertop Transformation

Similar to the wallpaper in our 1999 Sun-lite travel trailer, the countertops were also an outdated shade of teal. They needed to go!

We explored a few different options for our countertop renovation and decided on paint. There are a wide variety of countertop transformation products available, which vary significantly in terms of price and labor. We chose Rust-Oleum’s Countertop Tint Base Coating Kit, which was inexpensive and seemed simple enough. We purchased one quart tinted in Cobblestone.

Oops. These photos were obviously an afterthought.  Above are the 12 color options.

First, we taped off the walls, appliances, and sink with painters tape. Besides the kitchen counter, there were narrow counter ledges around the back of the U-shaped dinette. The dinette table was also made of the same laminate material.

We used a 4-inch foam roller for the larger surfaces and a sponge brush for the edges and trim. The paint was thick but went on very smoothly with the foam roller. Two coats completely covered it.

We also unscrewed the dinette table legs and spray painted them to match the cabinet hardware.

Painting the countertops inside the trailer was a very, very stinky process. Make sure to have good ventilation and airway protection!!!

Here’s the final look! (I know it’s sloppy between the back of the counter and the window frame. I’m still trying to decide if I could squeeze a little tile backsplash under there or if I should just paint the space yellow with a teeny tiny brush.)

We’re satisfied with the look and feel of the new countertops. The durability against sticky fingers, spilled milk, and dog face will be determined over time.

Supplies and Cost Summary for this Project:

• Rust-Oleum Specialty Countertop Tintbase Kit – 1 quart: $19.98
• Mini-Foam Roller: $4.97
• Extra Foam Rollers, 2 pack: $4.97
• Painters Tape
• Fan and mask

Total Cost: $29.92

The RV Makeover Continues: A Little Paint Goes A Long Way

Our bright, new cabinets did wonders to further accentuate the horrific holographic wallpaper lighten up the overall mood of the camper.

Wall paint was next on our list. I wanted something light but with just enough umph to contrast the white cabinets. We chose Behr’s Taj Mahal and purchased one gallon of interior satin (paint & primer in one) from Home Depot.

The whole process was quick and simple, just like painting a super small room in your house!

First, we taped around the freshly painted cabinets, window frames, and appliances as needed.

We used a brush to cut in around the tape, nooks, and crannies and a roller to cover the larger sections. We painted right over the wallpaper, which was quite satisfying. Two coats and it was gone! 

Well, not completely. It’s still inside all of the cabinets in case I want to look back at it and reminisce for old time’s sake.

Which will never, ever happen.

Cost and Supplies Summary for this project:

• 1 Gallon Behr Paint: $28.97
• Blue painter’s tape: 2 @ $2.74 = $5.48
• “HANDy Paint Cup”: $2.97

Total: $37.42

P.S. I definitely need to give a shout out to the “HANDy Paint Cup.” I rolled my eyes when hubby came home with it, because stupid gadgets = clutter and it seemed like a waste of money. I was wrong, as it was seriously the greatest invention ever, especially when you are painting or touching up in really small spaces. It’s basically a large plastic coffee mug that you carry around with you in your non-paintbrush hand. My favorite feature was that it had a magnet near the top so that if you had to put your brush down in the cup, it stuck up high and didn’t slip down into the paint. Sloppy handle prevention – genius! I was the brusher and hubby was the roller, so with me being all handy we could paint in tandem without tripping over each other to dip in the bucket. I saw a very similar product at the Dollar Tree but WARNING – it did not have the magnet. Splurge on the magnetic version!

RV Renovations Begin: Spraypaint Cabinet Makeover

Our “new” camper, a 1999, 21-foot Sun-lite travel trailer, was barely unhitched before I was raring to start a project.

The outdated, wooden cabinetry with shiny brass hardware was first on my list.

Here’s a snapshot of the cabinetry. Unfortunately, it’s not limited to the kitchen, but can also be found in the bedroom, bathroom, and dinette areas. So, basically everywhere.

First, we got down to the bare bones. We took down all the curtains and blinds and removed all of the cushions and linens from the camper.

Next, we removed each cabinet door. We also removed the hardware (both the handle and hinges) from the doors, so that we could update that, too. We carefully collected all the tiny pieces in an old ice cream bucket so nothing would get lost.

We were looking for a smooth, glossy, wipeable finish with no visible brushstrokes. We had a lot of area to cover and a curious 2-year old in tow, so we needed to keep the project moving along. After a little research, we decided to do this project entirely with spray paint which we purchased at Home Depot.

We chose Rust-Oleum Universal Paint & Primer in One Spraypaint in White Gloss for the cabinets and bought it by the 6-pack. We laid out the cabinet doors on a plastic sheet in the backyard, and elevated them with boards under each end to prevent them from sticking to the plastic.

Each side of the cabinet required 2 coats of paint.

We chose Rust-Oleum Metallic Spraypaint in Antique Brass for the hardware. We organized the hardware neatly on another plastic sheet, using 2 boards to raise the edges of the handles so they didn’t touch the plastic.

After spraying the bottoms of the handles, we flipped them over to spray the tops. We punched the screws into a block of styrofoam and gave the tops a quick, even coat.

The hardware required only 1 coat of paint, with a little touch-up afterwards. I also spray painted a few decorative odds and ends to match.

The toughest job was painting the cabinet frames inside the camper. We taped around the frames as needed, particularly around the appliances in the kitchen area, which we also covered with plastic. (As we were planning to paint the walls and update the floor, we didn’t go too crazy with taping every surface.) Hubby did the hard work of spraying the interior, which required 2 coats. In such tight quarters, good ventilation and airway protection were really important!

Once everything was dry, we reattached the hardware to the cabinets, and then reattached the cabinets to the frames in the camper.

I’m amazed to report that somehow in this entire process, which was closely supervised by a 2-year old that has been known to lose her shoes in the car, we were not missing a single screw!

Although we certainly could have reduced our costs by using a gallon of white paint and brushes, the spray paint was quick and easy and we’re happy with the smooth, shiny finish. We were able to save money by not purchasing new hardware.

Supplies and cost summary for this project:

• 14 cans white spray paint
  • 2, 6-packs @ $34.56 = $69.12
  • 2 single cans @ $5.76 = $11.52
• 1 cans metallic spray paint @ $5.76
• Plastic sheeting
• Miscellaneous boards
• Fan and mask

Total Cost: $86.40

Occupational hazards

RV Makeover: Choosing a Color Scheme

Even after spending a considerable amount of time browsing RV makeovers on Pinterest, I still couldn’t nail down a theme or color scheme for our new camper.

Classic red, white and blue? Sea glass-inspired green and aqua? Vintage black and white?

So many options. We browsed the fabric store and left completely overwhelmed.

The following day, C and I went to Salvation Army. I was hoping to find just the right piece to inspire the overall style and “mood” of the camper.

Suddenly, a throw pillow in a vintage floral pattern caught my eye. And then another in a coordinating pattern. *Gasp!* It was an entire set! A reversible comforter, 2 large curtains, 3 throw pillows and 2 large pillow shams, all in coordinating blues and yellows. A variety of linens to outfit the entire camper.

Nothing was over $12.99, with most pieces priced around $2.99. I quickly loaded my cart.

Hmm. The florals look a little purple in this picture. They’re actually a pretty shade of blue.

At check-out, there was even more good news. Several of the pieces were 50% off this week, so the total for the entire set was only $29.

Although our camper does have a separate bedroom area, the overall space is small enough that I want to keep a single color scheme throughout. The linens can be incorporated into both the bedroom and living room areas to tie everything together.

Now that we have a color scheme and style, we’re ready to move on to paint, flooring, and decor!

The Newest Member of Our Family

I’ve got some big news to share with you. Like, really big. Like 21-feet long, to be exact.

We bought an RV!

Having rediscovered our love of camping but feeling less than thrilled about the realities of tenting with a toddler and dog as chilly weather approaches, we started a search for used RVs on Craigslist. After careful consideration, we paid $2900 in cash to a sweet Pennsylvania couple and towed home a 1999 Sun-Lite travel trailer.

First, the good news. It’s in good shape and very clean. It’s got the perfect set-up for our little family and was well within our budget.

Next, the bad news, which I won’t even sugarcoat. The interior is ugly as sin just not my style. Tacky wood laminate cabinets with gold hardware. The weirdest abstract art cushions you’ve ever seen. Some sort of holographic wallpaper. Curtains that are seriously confused about whether they’re tie-dyed or snake skin print. A faux wood refrigerator. Seriously, why?! Who would ever believe that a refrigerator was made out of wood??! Anyways, you get the picture.

But there’s actually some great news, though, too, which is that all of these issues are strictly cosmetic!

Hello!?! Those are the FUN kind!

Here’s the current status.

I had no idea that there were so many shades of teal.

We don’t have a theme or color scheme yet, but I’m pretty sure it can only get more aesthetically pleasing from here.

Follow us on our journey to create a modern, fun, and comfortable space to spend some quality time together. Let the renovations begin!

Doing What We Do: Coupons & Soup

C and I ran our Friday morning errands last week: Dunkin Donuts and Shoprite. I spent about $13 on $58 worth of groceries. My guilty pleasures, the Starbucks drinks and chocolate bars, were free with coupons. I stocked up on frozen veggies, too. Normally $2.99/bag, they were on sale for $1.49 this week. I had coupons for $1.00/2 bags, which doubled to 2.00, making each bag only 49 cents. I bought frozen broccoli, peas, and edamame for soups and snacks.

We also got that giant head of kale, which I had never bought before and could only find by reading the little twisty tie labels on each of the greens. I needed it for our other Friday hobby: making soup.

Crockpot Chicken and Barley Stew – adapted from IowaGirlEats

• 48oz (6 C) chicken broth
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 small chicken breasts
• 3/4 C regular barley (not quick-cooking)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 C chopped kale
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced

Add chicken broth, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and bay leaves into the crock pot and stir to combine. Layer in chicken, barley, onions, kale, potatoes, and carrots. Do not stir. Press veggies down to cover with chicken broth then cook on low for 5-6 hours, until barley is tender.

Remove bay leaves and discard. Remove chicken breasts, shred, and return meat to the soup. Stir to combine.

This recipe is incredibly healthy, delicious, and frugal. The soup is hardy thanks to inexpensive veggies like potatoes and carrots, as well as barley, and calls for a minimal amount of meat. It was enjoyed by both big and little mouths!

Homemade Gifts: Limoncello

We’ve tried a variety of different homemade gifts over the past few years. Seasoned peanuts, infused vodkas, bottle cap magnets. We wanted to do something different this year and decided to make Limoncello.

We used this recipe as our guide.

Limoncello

• 750 mL pure grain alcohol (70-90% alcohol)
• 8 lemons
• 750 mL water
• 3 1/2 C white sugar

We doubled this recipe using a handle of Everclear (151 proof). Hubby painstakingly peeled 16 lemons by hand. We put the peels in a large cooler and poured the alcohol overtop. We sealed it and let it infuse for 48 hours.

After 48 hours, we used the empty Everclear bottle to measure the same quantity of water into a large pot on the stove. As soon as the water reached a boil, we removed it from the heat and stirred in about 5 cups of sugar, which was not quite double but ended up being plenty.

We let the water/sugar mixture cool for about 10 minutes. We poured the alcohol/lemon peel mixture through a stainer to remove the peels and then added the alcohol to the water/sugar pot.

We stirred to combine and obviously had to taste-test immediately. Delicious!

Once it was cool, we poured the finished product into several decorative bottles and jars to give as gifts.

FYI, a 750 mL bottle of Limoncello retails for around $30 in the liquor store. We spent $25 on Everclear and $8 on lemons. With a bit of elbow grease, we were able to make 4, 750 mL bottles worth of Limoncello for a total of $32 – almost 75% cheaper than retail price!

We will surely eat, drink, and be merry this year!

A Work Gift Exchange

I’m pretty proud of this gift I just wrapped up for work tomorrow. It’s a “pamper yourself” themed, random exchange with a $10-15 spending limit.

My gift bag includes:

• Sugar scrub form Victoria’s Secret, retail price: $10. I used a $10 off your $10 purchase coupon that I got in the mail and paid nothing.
• LypSyl lip balm, retail price: $3. I got it for free with a coupon when it was on sale.
• Toblerone candy, retail price: $3. I paid 50 cents for it by combining a coupon with a store sale.

Total gift bag retail value: $16. Total spent out of pocket: 50 cents! Woohoo!

Paper Snowflakes

Hubby had his work Christmas party tonight so C and I were looking for a project. I came across a DIY site with a huge list of paper snowflake templates.

I saved and printed this image for inspiration.

I folded the paper the usual way, did my best to pencil the design onto the folded paper, and then cut. I’m not very artistic but this was surprisingly easy.

The results were quite beautiful.

C watched quietly as I cut and shrieked with delight as I slowly opened the finished product. “PRETTY!!!!”

We quickly found that the snowflakes were too fragile for little hands to hold and were better enjoyed taped up on the windows.

Besides being fun and festive, what’s more frugal than paper snowflakes??